A native conifer can also be good for culinary surprises. The spruce is a good example of this. You can process and eat young spruce needles in many ways. Here you can find out what the plant produces.
Can you eat spruce needles and how to use them?
As a “Featured Snippet”: Young spruce needles, especially the light green shoot tips, are edible and can be used in many ways. They contain vitamin C, essential oils and tannins. Popular options include spruce needle tea, syrup, pesto or for seasoning salads and flavoring oil and honey.
Which spruce needles can I eat?
Collect thefresh spruce shootsfrom the branches of the tree betweenMay to April. You can recognize them by their light green color. In some regions the shoots are also known as “Maywipfel”. This refers to the time of harvest. The branches of the tree can be used to make tea all year round. However, the fresh shoots of the spruce in particular offer a fine aroma and can be processed in a variety of ways.
How he althy are spruce needles?
Spruce needles containVitamin C, essential oilsas well as certaintannins and are therefore very he althy. For good reason, spruce needle tea is also often used as a remedy. It has an expectorant effect. It is also said to have a calming effect.
It's so easy to pour spruce needle tea:
- Place spruce branches with the tips down in a cup
- Pour boiling water
- Let it steep for five minutes
How do you make syrup from spruce tips?
Pick young spruce tips andcookthesewith water and sugar over several hours. Proceed as follows:
- Collect and wash one kilogram of spruce tips.
- Place spruce tips in a pot.
- Fill with water until everything is covered and bring to the boil.
- Cook covered for one hour until the needles turn brown.
- Let cool and cover with a cloth for 24 hours.
- Pour water through the cloth and add one kilo of sugar per liter.
How did I make spruce needle pesto?
In combination witholive oil, parmesan, basilandpine nuts, the May tops also make a wonderful base for a tasty pesto. The aroma can already be guessed from the smell of the plant. Making this tasty recipe isn't difficult either:
- Cut the spruce tips and basil leaves into small pieces with a knife.
- Crush the pine nuts with a mortar.
- Gather all three ingredients in a bowl.
- Add oil, s alt and pepper and mix well.
- Finally add grated Parmesan.
What else can I use young spruce needles for?
You can also use the shoot tips of the spruce to season salads, refine olive oil, flavor honey or make herb quark. In all cases, this ingredient promises a distinctively sour forest aroma. The spruce therefore offers a variety of possible uses.
Tip
Keep a certain distance from roads when collecting
The tree you harvest from should be at least 100 meters away from the nearest road. This is how you avoid excessive pollution.